Orchard heater



- P. VLAG,

ORCHARD HEATER arch 25 1924.

2 SheetsSheet vl Filed Aug. 25. 1925 March 25 1924. R 1,488,416

. P. VLAG I ORCHARD HEATER Filed 1m 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedMar. 25, 1924.

mm s

PIET vane, or WEST TAMPA, momma;

03cm!) HEATER.

Application flled August 25, 1923. Serial at. 059,422;

the types of orchard heaters now generally in use. 7

The present application is a continuation, in part, of my priorapplication, Serial No. 594,260, filed October 13, 1922.

The invention relates more particularly to heaters of that type in whichliquid fuel is used as distinguished from those in which wood, coal orother solid fuel is employed.

The invention moreover is not intended to throw off any smoke, andtherefore is distinguished from the smudge type of apparatus forprotecting orchards against freezing weather.

- In apparatus using liquid fuel it is especially desirable, both forfuel economy and efficiency of operation; to-have the combustion ascomplete as possible; also-it is desirable for the products ofcombustion to be scattered over the ground at a'low level so that theymay ocoupyias shallow a stratum of air as possible, as any'heat carriedby the ascendinggases above the tops of the trees is practically wasted.

It is Well known that the products of incompletecombustion of liquidfuel contain more or less carbon monoxide (G0), which is li hter thanair and tends to rise, and in pro ucing which not rfear'so much heat isgenerated as in the production of .carbondioxide (G0,) which is heavierthan'air and would normally tend .to descend. Of course, when thecombustion is complete, the products of combustion will consist mainlyof nitrogen, from which the oxy en has been removed, mixed with carbonioxide, both of which are heavier thanair, and more or less aqueousvapor which-is lighter than air.

/ The tendency of this mixture when released would be to rise in theair, but in cold weather this aqueous vapor 18 soon condensed intowater, delivering lts latent heat to the provide improvementssurrounding atmosphere, and the nitrogen and carbon dioxide are cooledby contact with the atmosphere and would tend to remain at a low level.Therefore, if the productsof combustion are the surface of the groundthey will spread along the ground and rise slowly in the orchard, thuseconomically distributing the heat where most needed. My invention isespecially intended to accomplish these results.

A further feature im' ortant insuch apparatus is to prevent tl fe liquidfuel from becoming mixed with rain water, and therefore it is importantto keep the device prac-, tically rain-proof. Furthermore, it isimportant to render the device eflicient in strong winds which, with theapparatus now generally used, are apt to interfere with, the properoperation of the device by creating air currents which interfere withthe eflicient operation of the heater.

A still further object of this invention is .to so proportion the sizesof the variousparts; such as the height and diameter of the chimney, thesize of the combustion chamber, and the size and location of the air,

feeding and distributing cone, as to produce all of the aboveadvantages, and insure complete combustion and elimination of carbon.

Finally, it is important to have the apparatus of simple which may beconveniently transported when desired, and may be conveniently set up ortaken apart and operated as required. It will be obvious that suchapparatus is liable to be of infrequent use and should be so constructedas not to require any special attention when stored away and not in use,and not-likely to get out of order.

I have endeavored/to construct the apparatus so astocover all of thedesirable features hereinbefore described.

My invention will be more fully understood after reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which like parts are indicate by similarreference symbols throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete apparatus, parts beingshown in section and parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the annular bowl or tank in which the liquidfuel is placed, the cone and flare, and the upper portion of theapparatus being removed from said tank.

and light construction delivered close to Figure 3 is a view of thedevice shown in Fig. 2, as seen from the left of said figure.

Figure 4 shows a section along the. line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking down.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the distributing cone and flare used in theapparatus.

Figure 6 is a detail showing the deflecting cap removed from theapparatus; and

Figure 7 shows the top of the smoke stack provided with the protectingcap which should be kept over the top of the smoke stack when the heateris in the open and not in use. This cap is mainly intended to keep outrain and dust when the heater is not in use.

The apparatus comprises a bowl A, preferably made of annularconstruction and provided on the interior with a central air flue A tosupply the air needed 'in burning the fuel. This bowl isshown asprovided near its top with an-annular bead a connected with the mainbody of theboWl by the annular flange a which thus forms an overhangingstructure, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3. This bowl may bemounted on any convenient support, such as the legs B, spaced apart asshown in Fig. 1, so as to permit the free passage of air beneath thebowl. Bricks or blocks of any kind may be substituted for the legs ifdesired, provided the bottom of the bowl is raised aboy e the ground farenough to permit the free passage of air into the air flue A".

Mounted above the bowl is the conical skirt C having its lower portion 0adapted to fit snugly over the bead a of the bowl A, and having itsupper portion cylindrical as at 0 to engage the smoke stack D. The upperend of the skirtC is open as at 0.

The smoke stack D is normally closed when not in use by the "cap E, seeFig. 7, but when the heater is in operation it is provided with anumbrella-shaped cap F which may be detachably. connected to the smokestack as by means of the resilient legs f, see Figs. 1 and 6. These legsserve to space the umbrella cap a suitable distance above the smokestack, so as to permit the free passage of the products of combustionbeneath the umbrella cap,and the shape of said cap tends to deflect theproducts of combustion downwards.

Mounted over the air flue A is the perforated cone H. The lower portionh of said cone is not perforated and serves as a flare, as will behereinafter described. This cone is connected to the walls of the airflue A! by means of the resilient legs it, see Figs. 1 and 5.

The ignition is started and controlled by means of the damper I, seeFig. 3. This damper may be provided with a thumb lug or handle 2', andis shown as having an opening i to uncover one or more of the threeholes 1, 2 and 3, varying progressively in size, formed in the side ofthe bowl, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the damper may be drawn out topermit the influx of air through either the smaller hole 1 of the twoholes 1 and 2, or the three holes 1. 2 and 3. The rate of combustion ofthe liquid fuel will obviously be increased according to the amount ofair permitted to flow in through one or more of these holes justreferred to. This damper and the openings controlled thereby, it will benoted, are mounted beneath the overhanging shoulder a. and are thusprotected against rainfall.

To prevent side winds from interfering with the operation of the device,I provide a deflecting strip K, which. if desired, may be of corrugatedform as shown in Fig. 4, and this deflector projects down into theliquid fuel abreast the holes 1, 2 and 3, as shown most clearly in Figs.1 and 2. Adjacent to the damper I, I provide a shelf M having openingsor therein on which shelf a small piece of cotton waste or the likesaturated with kerosene may be placed for convenience in startingtheignition. This shelf may be made integral with-the deflector K, ifdesired, and removable therewith from the apparatus.

The success of this orchard heater depends 'not only on the novelcombination and construction of the above described parts, but also onthe relative positioning of the parts and the relative sizes-thereof.Experimentation has proven that the lower row of openings in the cone Hshould be below the chimney D substantially two-thirds of the distancebetween the chimney D and the surface level of the fuel in the bowl A,and that the diameter of the cone H at the lower openings should beaboutsix-sevenths of the diameter of the chimney D. Also, the heightofthe chimney D must be substantially nine times the diameter thereof toinsure proper draft and complete combustion sired height about the coneH.

The operation of the device is as follows:

at the de- -Suppose the parts to be assembled and inv the position shownin Fig. l, with the bowl charged with liquid fuel, the waste lighter inthe flame will be distributed around the en tire surface of the liquidfuel. Any suitable liquid fuel may be used, preferably crude distillateof mineral oil. such as kerosene; but probably no oil of a lowerspecific gravity than 28 Baum should be used, or not higher than 45Baum.

The initial combustion will develop a mixture of vapors from the surfaceof the oil which is rich in carbon and nitrogen, but lacking in oxygen,and the combustion will be incomplete; but alter reaching the flare andpassing over the perforations in the place, and the damper open, inserta lighted match or a torch through the opening 3 of the damper; thiswill ignite the waste and bowl.

cone the supply of oxygen from the air coming in through the air flue Awill be more than suflicient to complete the combustion, and thiscombustion will take place in the form of a flame rising up through thesmoke stack. As soon as the apparatus is working properly the damper isset to the desired opening, depending upon the amount of heat derivedfrom the heater.

The products of combustion pass up through the smoke stack and strikingthe umbrella cap F are deflected downwards towards the ground, andmingle at the same time with the surrounding atmosphere. The hot gasesstriking the colder; air outside will become more or less chilled andmost of the aqueous vapor will be converted into water,

releasing the latent heat of said vapor, which latenfiheat will bedistributed through the surrounding air, and would naturally cause thegaseous particles to rise; but the lighter aqueous vapor being removedand the heavier gases, nitrogen and carbondioxide, then predominating,the tendency of the heated gases to rise would be in a measurecompensated for, and the resultant gases would then form a blanket, soto speak, over the face of the ground extending upwards amongst thetrees. The more perfect the combustion, the heavier will these gases be,and therefore the tendency of the heated gases to rise will by a largemeasure be compensated for, if not overcome.

By having a large number of these heaters scattered through the orchardand simultaneously in operation, the heat may be distributed very widelyover the orchard and the trees protected from excessive cold.

It will be obvious-that the umbrella cap F will prevent rain fromfalling down the smoke stack, and the protected position of the damper Iwill prevent rail? water from. entering through the slot in t Thedeflector K is used to preventany strong wind, blowing in at that sideof the bowl, from interfering with the normal operation of the device,since air thus blown in by the wind would strike this deflector andwould be so scattered or distributed that it. would not interfere withthe proper process of initial ignition. Moreover the cone and flarebeing entirely protected from the external air currents would be freefrom the usual objectionable eddy currents which take place when thesurplus air is admitted, through the sides of the smoke stack. Thus itWlll be seen that all of the operative parts of the heater aresubstantially screened, either from wind or rain, and operatedinternally in the device. e ,7- 1

With the apparatus herein described a large quantity of air is supplied,not only to support combustion but to be heated and distributed from theheater with other prode side of the nets of combustion in a low stratumwhere g the most economical results are secured. By having an excess ofoxygen present, and having a strong up draft through the smoke stack,the combustion is com lete, there is little or no smoke produce andthere is practically no carbonization or clogging up of the smokestackor of the burner attached thereto. This obviates the necessity .offrequent cleaning out of the apparatus which is very important, as thesedevices are only intended for infrequent use and then may have to beused continuously for a considerable time, and it is important to havethem kept in such continuous use without being overhauled for cleaningor repairs. \Vhcre a slow heat is required the damper is only opened soas to expose one or more of the small holes while if a strong heat isrequired all of the holes of the damper are exposed. The fuel burnsverymuchilonger, of course, when the initial' combustion is small than whereit is great, and the heat derived from the heater is of course muchlarger when a greater supply of fuel is used. The amount of fuel usedcan therefore be controlled by regulating the damper. The fuel burnsgradually'down from the surface towards the bottom of the bowl until itis entirely consumed.

"The heater may be conveniently recharged by taking off the smoke stackand pouring into the bowl a fresh supply of liquid fuel. This of courseshould not be done when the bowl is hot.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in theherein described apparatus, and in the construction, combilimit theinvention to such details except as particularly pointed out in theclaims.

The various parts of the apparatus may be made of cheap rolled steel orthe like and the complete ap aratus will be uite light and may be easi ytransportedeit er in' the' assembled or in the knock-down condition. Itwill thus beseen that I provide acheap, simple, eflicientandeconomicaldevice which may be used for the purpose.

Having thus described my mvention, what if Iclaim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An orchard heater comprising a bowl for containing liquid fuel andhaving an air -flue extending up through the body of fuel,

a perforated cone having its apex closed, said cone seated upon theupper end of the air flue above the body of lubricant, a conical skirtupon the bowl concentric with said cone, said skirt enclosing anuninterrupted conical chamber extending between the perforated conewalls and the skirt, said conical chamber being directly above the fuelbody, and an elongated chimney upon the upper and smaller end of theskirt.

2. An orchard heater comprising a bowl for liquid fuel supported at anelevation and having an air flue extending up centrally therethrough, acone closed at its apex and fitted over the upper end of said flue,spring arms carried by the interior of said cone for slipping into saidflue, said cone being perforated, a conical skirtremovably seated onsaid bowl and being concentric with the perforated cone, said skirtadapted to en close a conical space uninterrupted from the perforatedcone to the skirt and'said space extending above the body of the fuel,said space being wider at its base and being graduallv restrictedupwardly toward the point of the cone and the upper end of the skirt,and a relatively high chimney on the upper end of said skirt.

3. An orchard heater comprising a bowl adapted to contain a quantity'offuel and having a central flue extending up through the body of thebowl, a chimney'spaced above the bowl, a cone seated over the top of theair flue and having a closed apex and a v plurality of openings 1n itsside with the lowermost openings spaced below the chimney substantiallytwo-thirds of'the entire distance between the chimney and the surfacelevel of the fuel, the diameter of the cone at 1e lowermost openings,thereof being substantially four-fifths of the diameter of the chimney,and the height of the chimney being substantially nine times the diaeter of the chimney, and a skirt betwe n the chimney and the bowlenclosing said cone and providing a combustion chamber thereabout'and'between the lower row" of openings and the apex of thecone.

4. kn ordhard heater comprising a bowl adapted to contain a quantity offuel and havinga central flue extending up through the body of the bowl,a chimney spaced above the bowl, a cone seated over the top of the airflue and having a closed apex and a plurality of openings in its sidewith the diameter of the cone at the lowermost openings equalsubstantially to six-sevenths of of the diameter of "the chimney, thediameter of the cone at the lowermost openings thereof beingsubstantially four-fifths of the diameter of the chimney, and the heightof the chimney' being substantially nine times the diameter of thechimney, and a skirt between the chimney and the bowl enclosing saidcone and providing a combustion chamber thereabout and between the lowerrow of openings and the apex of the cone.

5. An orchard heater comprising a bowl adapted to contain a quantity offuel and having a central flue extending up through the bodyof the bowl,a chimney spaced above the bowl, a cone seated over the top of the airflue and having a closed apex and a plurality of openings in itssidewith the lowermost openings spaced below the chimney, substantiallytwo-thirds of the entire distance between the chimney and the surfacelevel of the fuel, the diameter of the cone at the lowermost openingsthereof being substantially four-fifths of the diameter of the chimney,and the height of the chimney being substantially nine times thediameter of the chimney, and a skirt between thechimney and the bowlenclosing said cone and providing a combustion chamber thereabout andbetween the lower row of openings and the apex of the cone, the diameterof said cone at the lowermost openings being equal substantially tosix-sevenths of the diameter of the chimney.

PIET VLAG.

